Board deadlocks on subdivision junction town

Intersection concerns troubled the Kalispell City Planning Board enough that it could not make a recommendation Tuesday on a proposed subdivision on Hathaway Lane west of the city.

The planning board split 2-2 on a set of conditions recommended by city staff for the Autumn Creek Subdivision.

The preliminary plat now is headed to the City Council without a recommendation from the planning board.

Linda and Lee Hershberger own almost 8.7 acres on Hathaway Lane, where they want to put 17 single-family houses and four townhouses.

Their proposal includes installing a right-turn lane on U.S. 2 for traffic to slow down before entering Hathaway Lane.

Three Hathaway Lane residents spoke against the subdivision at a Tuesday public hearing. They cited some quality-of-life factors affected by extra homes.

But they concentrated on the likelihood of increased accidents due to extra cars entering and leaving the high-speed U.S. 2 at Hathaway Lane.

While the Montana Department of Transportation has indicated it would put in the right-turn lane, it does not appear inclined to add a more complicated and expensive center-turn lane just for Hathaway Lane, City Planner Narda Wilson said.

The planning board unanimously recommended that the city annex Autumn Creek Subdivision with the suburban residential zoning sought by the Hershbergers.

But board members were bothered that a right-turn lane was all that realistically would be done to address the traffic problem.

That was enough to convince board members George Taylor and John Hinchey to vote against the preliminary plat. Timothy Norton and Rick Hull recommended that the City Council pass the preliminary plat.

Board members Bob Albert, Kari Gabriel and Bryan Schutt were absent.

The board also recommended 3-1 that the council remove the townhouses from the subdivision proposal, saying that could slightly trim Hathaway Lane's future traffic. Hull recommended keeping the townhouses.

Also Tuesday, the board unanimously recommended that the City Council allow light assembly businesses to locate in community business zones. Light assembly businesses produce items whose components can be easily carried by one person.

Most of Kalispell's community-business-zoned areas are north of Idaho Street and west of U.S. 93.

The recommendation was prompted by ACG Kalispell Investors, owners of the Gateway West Mall, trying to find a tenant. ACG had a light assembly business lined up, but needed a change in the zoning law to allow such a plant at that location.

That prospective tenant has decided to go elsewhere, but the mall owner still sees the building's potential for a light assembly business.

To allow a light assembly plant at Gateway West, the city needs to allow similar operations in all areas zoned for community business.

The planning board recommended that the proposed zoning law change include a caveat that any light assembly operation seeking a home in a community-business area be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Reporter John Stang may be reached at 758-4429 or by e-mail at jstang@dailyinterlake.com